Mesa Program Abstract

At the present time, there are 700 students enrolled in the SDSU MESA program. These students are served by the Director, Academic Coordinator, Counseling Coordinator, and the Office Manager who are the day to day managers of the MESA Center at SDSU. The MESA Advisor, usually a high school mathematics or science teacher at the respective school. The faculty sponsor, a university faculty member who establishes relationships with local engineering and science oriented companies, professional associations and community organizations. The MESA Industry Advisory Board is composed of representatives from school districts, universities, industry, minority organizations, professional organizations and other community groups. The students who are selected to participate in MESA come from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or groups that have historically been underrepresented in engineering and the physical sciences. They must have expressed an interest in mathematics and science related careers and be currently enrolled in a college preparatory math course. More than 85% of MESA high school graduates go on to college. Of the MESA graduates who enroll in colleges and universities, the majority have chosen majors in math or science related technical fields. Compared to their non-MESA peers, MESA students are twice as likely to pursue careers in physical sciences, and three times as likely to pursue an engineering career.

The SDSU MESA program and local industry are anxious to help our students research their academic and career goals through study assistance, career exploration, field trips to technical work sites, summer jobs, family involvement, incentive awards, academic advising and scholarships. Our MESA efforts are centered in the following nine regional high schools and three junior high school in two school districts:

Sweetwater Union District
Montgomery High School
Southwest High School
Castle Park Middle School
Castle Park High School

San Diego Unified District
Gompers High School
Gompers Junior High School
Madison High School
Morse High School
Lincoln Preparatory High School
San Diego High School
Crawford High School
Mann Middle School

At the present time, there are 700 students enrolled in the SDSU MESA program. These students are served by the Director, Academic Coordinator, Counseling Coordinator, and the Office Manager who are the day to day managers of the MESA Center at SDSU. The MESA Advisor, usually a high school mathematics or science teacher at the respective school. The faculty sponsor, a university faculty member who establishes relationships with local engineering and science oriented companies, professional associations and community organizations. The MESA Industry Advisory Board is composed of representatives from school districts, universities, industry, minority organizations, professional organizations and other community groups. The students who are selected to participate in MESA come from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or groups that have historically been underrepresented in engineering and the physical sciences. They must have expressed an interest in mathematics and science related careers and be currently enrolled in a college preparatory math course. More than 85% of MESA high school graduates go on to college. Of the MESA graduates who enroll in colleges and universities, the majority have chosen majors in math or science related technical fields. Compared to their non-MESA peers, MESA students are twice as likely to pursue careers in physical sciences, and three times as likely to pursue an engineering career.